Car-door



(No M-ode1.)j` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. W.-THICKINS.

GAR DOOR- l Patented Apr. '7, 1891-.

No. 450,125.v

f/A 7 f4/ fr (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. W. THIGKI-Ns.

GAR D003.

No. 450,125. n PatentedApr. 7, 1891.

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NNE lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD IV. THICKINS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD R. I-IARROUN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CAR-DOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,125, dated April '7, 1891.

Application filed September l0, 1887. Serial No. 249,383. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD IV. THICKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding-Door Hangers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sliding doors; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the hangers and method of constructing and operating the door, as hereinafter shown and described, and specicall y pointed out in the claims.

This invention may be applied to any form of sliding door which is arranged to travel upon a track or tracks, but is more particularly applicable to the doors of freight-cars, and for the purpose of illustration I have shown itin the drawings applied to such a purpose. p

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a car and one of its doors with the door partially open, showing my iinprovements attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the door closed. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line' IV IV of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the dooroperatingmechanism and a portion of the car-frame, illustrating more fully the construction. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the door and a portion of the car-frame, illustrating the manner of consti-noting the weatherstrips. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are detached views of the cam-shaft, Fig. 7 being in crosssection on the line Y Y of Fig. 8, and Fig. 9 being in sect-ion on the line Z Z of Fig. 10. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are sectional details similar to Fig. 6, illustrating modifiations in the construction of the weather-strips. Fig. 14 is a side view of a portion of a car and one of its doors, illustrating a modification of the construction of the operating mechanism.

. Fig. 15 is a plan view of Fig. 14:. Fig. 16 is a cross-section on the line V V of Fig. 14, showing the door ready to be inserted into the doorway-opening; and Fig. 17 is a similar view showing the door closed into the opening.

A represents a portion of the body or sides of the car; A2, a portion of the roof; A3, a portion of the floor; A4, the doorway-opening; A5, a portion of the door, A, the lower track on which the door travels, and A7 the upper track, which supports the upper edge of the door, all these parts being' constructed in the ordinary manner.

The door A5 when open sets with its inner face out from the side A of the car, as shown, so as to slide clear of the car, and will be so mounted upon the track as to be raised upward and forced inward when in the proper position opposite the opening A4, this action and the means whereby it is accomplished being the principal object of my invention.

Upon each of the lower corners of the door Afa plate B will be attached, each plate having journaled in its lower edge a cam-shaft B2. Only one of these plates B and only one side of the door A5 are shown in Fig. 1; but it will be understood that each lower corner of the door will be provided with one of the plates and cam-shafts.

Each of the cam-shafts is formed with a recess c near one end, the inner surface of the recess being in line with the upper line of the track A6, so that when the recess is downward the center line of the cam-shaft is on a line with the upperline of the track, as shown in Fig. 7, which represents a cross-section of the camshaft on the lineY Yof Fig. S. I/Vhen the cam-shafts are in this position, they are mere guides by which the door is moved backward and forward on the track Aand parallel with it, and have no other function so long as the cam-shafts are not revolved in their bearings in t-he plates B.

Near the outer end of each cam-shaft a lever B3 is secured in any suitable manner, but preferably by a square hole fitting ai-square socket on the cam-shaft, as shown, the action of this lever being to revolve the cam-shaft and cause it to assume the position shown in Fig. 9, and thus elevate the door the distance of one-half the diameter of the cam-shaft.

Each of the cam-shafts is formed with a cam rib or lug d', Whose function it is to run down behind the upper edge of the track and move the cam-shaft inward toward the side of the car and through its connection to the door by the plate B'. This action, as willbe readily understood,will cause the lower edge of the door to be moved inward and pressed against the side of the car.

Each of the upper corners of the door A5 will be provided with a plate D', in which a forked arm D2 is pivot-ed, the forks embracing the upper guide AT, as shown. When the door A5 is in its downward position7 the forked arm D2 is inoperative; but when the door is elevated by the revolving of the camshafts the forks of the arm by embracing the upper track roll beneath the under and inner sides of the upper track and transform the forked arms into toggle-levers, and thus force the upper edge of the door inward and keep it parallel with the car in its upward and inward movement.

The action of the forked arlns is t-wo fold: first, moving the door inward at the same time that it is raised by the cam-shafts, and, second, forming braces to hold the door pressed against the side of the carorinto the doorway-opening.

In Figs. 14,15,16, and 17 a slight modification in the construction is shown7 which will generally be adopted when the door is to be setbodilyinto the doorway-opening of the car, as this arrangement permits of a greater movement to the door than that shown in Fig. 1; but the construction, mode of operation, and results produced are snbstantiall y the same in both arrangements.

In the construction shown in Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17 the bar D2 is formed without t-he forked feature, andis pivoted by its upper end to the side of the car and adapted to act by its lower end against projections h on the upper corners of the door to throw the door inward at the same time it is elevated by the cam-shafts, the action and functions of the bar D2 being precisely the same as in the construction shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, and t-viz.,to move the door inward at the same time that it is elevated, and to also serve as a brace to hold thedoor pressed into the doorway-opening. In both forms the upward pressure on the door increases the inwardpressure, so that the close contact of the door against the car or into the doorway-opening is assured. 'lhe lower ends b2 of the toggle-levers D2 and corresponding faces of the lugs b will be beveled, as shown in Fig. 15, so that their contiguous surfaces will be sure to run in contact when the door is closed and prevent any slight side play from preventing the proper contact. The cam-shafts B2 have cam-ribs a2 near the outer ends, which pass down outside the track A when the shafts are revolved and serve to draw the door outward when the cam-shaft is revolved backward, the two sets of cam-ribs d a2, together with the camshafts, forming a screw-like conformation, as shown.

Each of the plates B will be provided with an anti-.friction roller B, to run upon the track A when the door is in its lowermost position to carry the door and prevent all the 4strains coming upon the cam-shafts, these rollers being inactive when the door is elevated.

Attached to the frame of the car alongside the doorway-opening `is a plate E', having a small lever or catch E2 pivoted to it, the free end of this catch having a projecting perforated lug g', against which a similar projecting lug g2 on the lever B3 strikes Awhen the lever is thrown over in elevating the door, as shown in Fig. 2, the perfo'rations in the two lugs forming a means for securing the door by a lock or seal. Thelever B3 projects beyond the lug g2 a short distance, as shown at g3, this projecting portion adapted to fit into a cavity in the lower part of the catch E2, so that thelever B3 will be held in the position shown in Fig. 2. The projecting end g3, when the lever is thrown over to the left, strikes the inclined face gu1 of the catch and lifts it upward, and passes into the cavity, the catch falling down again into its former position and holding the lever securely. The lugs g g2 are not necessary to the security of the connection between the catch and lever, as the projecting end g3 will hold them intact; but the lugs form a convenientmeans for attaching a lock or seal to the door. The plate E is provided with two stops h h2, which coact with a stop h3 on the catch E2 to limit the movement of the catch and prevent it falling too far downward or from being thrown too far upward.

In the construction shown in Fig. 14 one of the plates B,witl 1 its cam-shaft B2, is attached to the center of the door A3, while the outer -lower corners are supplied with plates F',

IOO

each connected by links F2 to rider-plates,

bearings, or shoes F3, adapted to rest upon and slide along the track A, as shown. Vhen the door is in its lowermost position, the lower surfaces of the plates F and the upper surfaces of the rider-plates F3 lie in` contact, and then when the door is elevated by the camshaft the links F2 are lifted with the ends of the door and throw the lower edge of the door over into its opening A4, as shown in Fig. 17. It will be noted that the pivots of the link F2 ext-end horizontally, so that the link swings in a vertical plane, whereby the door when opened and moved bodily outward from the outer face of t-he car is slightly lowered.

The rider-plates F3 are each provided with a downwardly-hanging lip or projection F4, which covers the track AG, and each lip is provided with a cavity d', which passes over the heads cl2of the bolts d3, by which the d vA5 is opposite the opening A4 and ready to be elevated and placed back into position the cavities d in the lips FlL will be opposite the heads d2 of the bolts, so that when the door is elevated the tendency of the rider-plates The to be thrown upward will be counteracted by the lips F4 catching upon the heads cl2.

Each of the cam-shafts B2 maybe provided with an arm B4, adapted to project forward and downward and strike a stop H, attached to the car A near the ends of the travel of the door Yto automatically revolve the camshaft when the door is near the end of its stroke in closing, the two positions of the camshaft being shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

Two of the bolts d3, by which the track A6 is connected to the car-frame, will be so arranged that the arms B4 of the cam-shaft will pass over them and be turned down behind them when revolved to operate the door, so that when the door is to be opened the act of pushing it backward along' its tracks will cause the arms B4 to catch upon the bolts d3 and throw the cam-shafts backward into their first position, and thus draw the door outward and downward ready to be moved along the tracks.

The presence of the arms B'L and stops H are not a necessary part of the invention, as the lever may be operated by hand; but by the use of the arms and stops the action is rendered automatic and the doors are more easily operated.

The edges of the door A5 are provided with inwardly-projecting ribs or plates M, which are rigidly secured or attachedv to the door, and are adapted to fit into grooves M2 in the face of the car or behind corresponding strips M3 on the edges of the doorway-opening, the strips being preferably inclined, as shown, so

that the act of drawing the door up against the car will also draw the strips M in closer contact with the strips M3 or into the grooves M2, and thus form a very close-fitting joint around the doorway, which will thoroughly exclude the elements. These strips M2 may be made in any desired form or construction; but for the purpose of illustration I have shown several modifications of the strips, but they are substantially the-same in all the modifications and produce t-he same results.

In Figs. l, 2, 8, 4, 5, and 6 the strips h/ 2are beveled and fit into beveled grooves in the car-frame around the doorway-opening, the strip on the rear edge of the door, as before stated, fitting behind a correspondingly-beveled strip on the rear edge of the doorwayopening. The location of this strip M3 is clearly shown in Fig. 6. A similar strip M4 will also be generally attached to the other edges of the doorway-opening, so as to furnish a uniform bearing-surface for the inner surfaces of the door and also to increase the bearing-surfaces 0f the strip.

In Fig. 1l a slight modification in the 1nanner of arranging the strips M andl M3 on the rear edge of the door is shown, consisting' in employingtwo sections of L-iron, one on the door and one on the car and set atan angle, and forming the grooves M2 to correspond, so that when the door is closed the joint contains a greatly-increased bearing-surface, forming a circuitous passage for the air in escaping or entering, and more effectually excluding dust and rain or snow.

The construction shown in Fig. 1l will be moreparticularly applicable to refrigeratorcars, and for similar constructions requiring a very tight joint.

In Fig. l2 a construction is shown similar to Fig. 1l, so far as an increased bearing-surface in the joint is concerned, while in Fig. 13 a construction is shown similarto that in Fig. 6, the strip M3 being formed of a metal plate attached at an angle to the side of the doorway-opening. If desired, the levers B3 of the two cam-shafts might be united by a rod, so that both would be operated together and by one operation. The levers B3 will each be provided with a handle B5, by which they may be more easilyr operated.

In the construction shown in Figs. 14 and l5 the plate B will be provided with a perforated projection g5, againstwhich the projection g2 on the lever B will rest when the lever is thrown over to raise the door to form a stop to the lever, and also to provide means for the insertion of a lock or seal. The 'lug or projection g5 thus serves the same purpose as the similar lug g. (Shown in Fig. l.) If preferred, one of the plates E and catches E2. might be attached to the door contiguous to the lever B3, as in Fig. l.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a door arranged to be moved laterally upon a track or tracks to cover and uncover the doorway-opening, one or more cam-shafts B2, having screw camribs and adapted to travel with said door upon said track or tracks, whereby by the revolution of said cam-shafts said door may be elevated and pressed against said car orinto the doorway -opening, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a door arranged to be moved laterally upon a track or tracks to cover and uncover the doorway-opening, one or more cam-shafts B2, having screw cam-ribs and adapted to travel with said door upon said track or tracks, and one or more toggle arms or levers D2, pivoted on or near the upper edge of said door, whereby by the revolution of said cam-shafts said door may be elevated and pressed against said car or into the doorway-opening, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a door arranged to be moved laterally upon a track or tracks to cover'and uncover the doorway-opening, one or more cam-shafts B2, having screw cam-ribs and adapted to travel with said door upon said track or tracks, and alever-arm B3, attached to said cam-shaft, whereby the latter may be operated, in combination with pivoted latch E2, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Il. The car having outwardly-projecting strips M3 at one or more edges of the doorway-opening and a sliding door having inwardly-projecting strips l rigidly attached on one or more of its edges, whereby when yIOO IIO

lsaid door is closed the strips on said door overlap the strips on said car, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A car having a doorway-openil'ig and provided with inwardly-extending grooves on its outer face along one or more margins of said doorway-opening, in combination wit-h a sliding car-door sliding on the exterior of said car and capable of being moved bodily to and from the outer face of the car, said door having stripson or near one or more of its edges projecting inwardly beyond the inner face of said door, said strips being rigidly attached to the door and adapted to iit in'said grooves in the outer face of the car, substantially as set forth.

6. A car having a doorway-opening and provided wi'th inwardly-extending grooves on its outer face along one or more margins of said doorway-opening, each of said grooves having at least yone face extending at an angle to the face of the car, in combination with a sliding car-door sliding on the exterior of said car and capable of being moved bodily to and from the outer face of the car, said door having strips on or near one or more of its edges projecting inwardly at an angle beyond the inner face of said door, said strips being rigidly secured to the door and adapted to fitin said grooves in the outer face of the car, substantially as set forth.

7. The car-door having strips on or near one or more of its edges and projecting past the inner face thereof and made integral therewith, in combination with a car having grooves in its face corresponding with said projecting strips, said door having cani-shafts supporting its lower edge, whereby it is capableof being lifted bodily and forced inward to cause said strips to enter said grooves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a door arranged to'be moved laterally upon a track or tracks to cover and uncover the doorway-opening, one or more cam-shafts B2, having screw cam-ribs and adapted to travel with said door upon said track or tracks, and a lever-arm B3, having perforated lug g2, in combination With pivoted latch E2, having correspondiugly-perforated lug g', substantially as and for the purpose set fort-h.

9. In a door arranged to be moved laterally upon a track or tracks to cover and uncover the doorway-opening, one or more cam-shafts B3, having screw cam-ribs and adapted to travel with said door upon said track or tracks, in combination with supporting-plates F attached to said door at or near its lower corners, rider-plates F3, adapted to embrace and travel upon said track and having recessed lips F4, and links F2, connecting said rider-plates and supporting-plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

RICHARD NV. THICKINS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD R. l-IARROUN, JOHN E. MCGUIRE. 

